A woman who alleged she was drugged and assaulted by seven Chi Phi fraternity members at Cornell University in October 2024 filed a civil lawsuit nearly two years later, prompting Tompkins County prosecutors to reopen a criminal investigation into the case. The allegation triggered significant institutional and state-level action. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul removed the local district attorney from the investigation and appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor, citing failures in how police and prosecutors initially handled the case. The university launched its own review of how it addressed the allegations and the role of Greek life on campus.

The case has also prompted legislative attention. Gov. Hochul announced plans to work with state lawmakers to close a legal loophole permitting defendants to use voluntary intoxication as a defense in sexual assault cases, citing the Cornell allegations as a catalyst for change. One of the seven accused men has requested that Attorney General James recuse herself from the criminal investigation, arguing her prior social media statements supporting the accuser present a conflict of interest.